Must read this again! After 'To Kill a Mockingbird', and being hemmed in to the one character's point-of-view, I've been very much missing a multi-povMust read this again! After 'To Kill a Mockingbird', and being hemmed in to the one character's point-of-view, I've been very much missing a multi-pov experience. This book was one of my first experiences of it, and one I really enjoyed. Also, the subject, WWII, is very current for me right now as well, and it's been well over 10 years since I read this last, so it will be perfect. Much as re-reading things when I have so many new things waiting to be read heightens my impatience for the rest, in this case I'm sure it will be worth it.

But now I can't find my copy, urgh! This is supposed to be one of the ones that's always right at hand. Not ok.. Then, M&Q, used books - no copy! Urgh! Soon though.. soon.......more

This book appealed to me from my parent's bookshelves from a young age - younger than 10 for sure. I tried multiple times to read it, but didn't actuaThis book appealed to me from my parent's bookshelves from a young age - younger than 10 for sure. I tried multiple times to read it, but didn't actually make it through it all until I was in the 16-18 age range. Was very pleased then - the text is so dense! But a lot of it is totally fascinating to me: the psyche content of course; and then the whole content about classical vs. romantic ways of thinking and living. Formed a basis for what I now understand to be a post-modern way of living - making choices consciously about how to think, and the various manners of life. And certainly the voice is difficult/annoying a lot of the time, but such is life. The good comes with a struggle... oh, wait: 'nothing good comes easy', that's the phrase. So be it....more

This collection of short stories is massive and fascinating; succeeding in its goal (in my opinion) of presenting life at the edge of multiple cultureThis collection of short stories is massive and fascinating; succeeding in its goal (in my opinion) of presenting life at the edge of multiple cultures as lived by folks of South Asian ethnicity.First, about the name. The word 'wallah' in South Asia means some or all of the following: vendor of, craftsman of, expert in. It is a very common term there, and carries connotations of abundant supply of all that is good.In the introduction the editor, Shyam Selvadurai, describes his journey and struggle of self-identification as he went from Sri Lanka to Canada (moved at 19). He uses the term diaspora over immigrant to include weight to each person's (sometimes secret) history, and also to include the struggles of each person in reshaping their identity in relation to both their old and new home. Those areas are some of the main essential contents of this collection.While these themes are very specific, the truth of them reaches the universal. For instance, in Anita Desai's 'Winterscape,' the space between people who are in intimate relationships is explored with ringing clarity. Anita clearly creates four characters: a man who moved to the West, the white woman he married, and the man's two mothers who remained in India. And the moment captured is his wife's defining as 'other' the man's two moms, in their reaction to snow. He feels bewildered and somewhat hurt by her reaction. In that is contained so much of the human experience: and thinking about ok/not ok; good/ bad fascinates me. Another universal (and particular) aspect of life included in this collection is religious extremism, which is cut wide open in Zulfikar Ghose's 'The Marble Dome,' which explores Pakistani society and is another of my favorites.In editing this collection, Shyam includes aspects of his own being. One of those aspects is that he is gay which - in many South Asian cultures - continues to be outside the definition of normal. I realized when I was reading some of the stories that I was reacting as myself, a straight-but-not-narrow US resident who's been aware and supporting of lgbtq culture for over 20 years; and that the cultures involved in these diasporas were very different. In those contexts, the sub-set of these stories with lgbtq content are ground-breaking, brave and probably difficult for many in the intended audience.Two in particular are especially poignant. The first, by Shyam Selvadurai himself, is called 'Pigs Can't Fly,' and tells the story of gender definitions being imposed on a person who had been happily living outside the norm to that point. His mother, answering the question of 'Why?' would say: "Because the sky is so high and pigs can't fly, that's why." Seems as valid a support for normalcy as anything I've ever come across!The second, Sandip Roy’s ‘Auld Lang Syne’ has lingered on my mind. It is about the reunion of two men who had been lovers, on the return of one from San Francisco to India. And mentions a third man, a mutual friend of these two, who has committed suicide. It shows the three choices available to people outside their culture's norms: escape away, suicide, stay and pretend and be internally dead. That later choice is in place for millions of course, in every community almost, required by a variety of conditions. Brings 'Angels in America' and 'Brokeback Mountain' to mind, which show that the pain and damage of that choice is not restricted to the individual, but is shared by their spouse and others.Other themes in this ambitious collection include cultural differences related to historical and cultural variations. He discusses in the introduction some of these primary divisions: the first wave of movement in the 1830's, when South Asians were brought in to many British colonies (in particular) to replace slaves; the second movement beginning in the mid-1950's, in which people moved to major metropolitan centers of the West. One fascinating tidbit about British motives in encouraging businesses to import South Asian populations: 'The aim was to get people in as guest workers who, even after they acquired citizenship, would continue to function as "passive citizens" as opposed to "active citizens" who participated and represented the nation-state of Britain." That is fascinating to me, but not referenced, and the stories (those few set in England) don't really get into that sort of political question at all. I'd love to learn more about that. Anyway, additional variances among the writers he describes include relationship to South Asia - some were born elsewhere and have never visited, most travel back intermittently, regularly or frequently. Some are 1st generation, others are 2nd, 3rd, even 4th generation. While this anthology is in English, the language is a huge variability, as native vernacular is used in quite a few stories (mainly those by writers of that earlier migration): and for me that was a big challenge. In a longer work incorporating native voice, one gets used to it. In this collection, each time it's a transition to master, and each vernacular is significantly different. Fascinating, but I hadn't been ready for that. I personally found it challenging as well to determine the setting of each story, the time period, and details like that. Comes with the short-story territory; and I am disadvantaged with not having the background to catch the significance of the information that is given much of the time. What it all adds up to is that this collection of short stories both demands and rewards active reading. Prior to reading each story, there is information available about the writer and their context that is of use to contextualize their work; the content then is rich and varied on all these multiple axis. And be warned: Shyam is apparently among those who believe that Indian Diaspora in inextricably linked with India’s extreme poverty: the last story in the collection - 'Chokra', by Numair Choudhury - is a short, brutal instance of that shocking misery.This would be a great book to include for any number of classes on culture, history, identity, population, work, many different topics.I personally would encourage the reader to take your time and read according to what you are seeking and/or slowly, one at a time. Rushing through would only dilute the essence and dull the fine points of this breathtaking collection....more

I have just been having my daughter and I watch the tv mini-series based on this book; both because of Obama's historic inauguration coming up, and beI have just been having my daughter and I watch the tv mini-series based on this book; both because of Obama's historic inauguration coming up, and because she is studying American History this year.

And it's been just as jolting and uncomfortable for me as I thought it would be, but for additional reasons than what I expected.

Of course all the humiliation and degradation and viciousness of the white population is horrifying.

But there were significant things that had escaped my attention when I watched it decades ago.

One, I missed the fact that Kunta Kinte was raised in a Muslim family, a Muslim community. Given the statements of the characters that atleast they were bringing God to a God-less people, that is huge.

The other is the rank insanity and surrealness of the paradigm of slavery created by the slave-owning community. For instance, in the scene just after it was discovered that Kizzy wrote the fake traveling pass for her lover, the slave owner's comments range from 'we're all a family, how could you betray me' to 'as a slave, you must obey'.. and those two paradigms are completely contradictory!

And through and through, if you look at it clearly, it was completely insane. As I've thought about it, it seems to me to an extent the insanity has never ceased.

I mean, first the slaves were freed and promised land - and not given it. So for many the relations remained similar to how it had been. Voting was not allowed. Texas didn't even tell the slaves they were free till forced to by Federal troops two and a half years later!

Physical intimidation has been constant, psychological brutality has been the norm. White expectations about what black people were supposed to be and to do continued to be maelstroms of ignorance and hatred. The civil rights movement came into being to redress wrongs, and was fought by many. Still today, many define themselves by their loyalty to the confederate cause. And racism still exists today in many forms. I'm not explaining that very well, will re-write after viewing again and/or reading this. I just have a kind of horrified sense that not nearly enough has changed.

So, long story short (or is it too late for that?) I'm really interested in reading the book now, to gather more such data and continue my own personal development toward being a white person who's *not* part of the problem, accordingly....more

An excellent story, love that quiet intensity. Atticus taking on this chore of defending a black man on charges of raping a white women, in the South,An excellent story, love that quiet intensity. Atticus taking on this chore of defending a black man on charges of raping a white women, in the South, in the mid 1930's. He knows what the outcome will be, but feels that if he were to turn it down, or do it less well than he possibly could, he would no longer have any standing with regard to his value system.And he makes sure his kids understand his perspective on the case, and why they're being punished at school by the other kids for his actions, being called 'n_-lover' and all. He understands that this will put the town and the community through a strenuous process, but he has a basic belief in the humanity of his community that sustains him and gives him courage. That belief is shaken by the end of the book, but also validated.I get why this book is so high on everyone's list now, after finally reading it.But, for me, there wasn't the enjoyment I was expecting. I think partly perhaps because it's set in the South, and of all the possible settings for literature, that's among my least comfortable. Especially when it's portrayed positively which, for the most part, was that case with this.But also I didn't like the point of view. I'm just sort of more into grown-ups now that kids, I think because of where I am in my parenthood arc.. after a while, I'll be interested in kids again; but right now with my own leaping into adulthood, that's where my focus is. And the POV is very flavorful in this, you know? Sometimes it's not so big of a deal, can be quite subtle. But in this case I totally felt enmeshed in her life. I've grown more comfortable with non-fiction (in which the pov fits within a certain minimalist range), and also with fiction in which the pov changes throughout the work. In fact, it's to the point where fiction in just one voice is almost always less preferable to me. And I'm wondering, is that ok? Have I become enamored of a gimmick to the point where I'm ruined for 'real' literature? Should I be more self-disciplined? I couldn't help but long to read a chapter here and there from Atticus' point of view, from Jem, from Cal, from Dill, from Boo! Also from the neighbor across the street, or from the purported rape victim herself. Have I crossed beyond some fourth wall of literature, and I should cross back and let go and be satisfied with what the author thinks is best? Or, is it the case that multiple points-of-view in one work are an aspect of literature that marks this period now in a positive way, and a technique that will likely be more in use going forward?Interested in any opinions, discussion.. ...more

Not written by a Native American, but someone with a deep personal history of the frontier and a valid awareness, as well as a librarian's backgroundNot written by a Native American, but someone with a deep personal history of the frontier and a valid awareness, as well as a librarian's background (and so his work is well-grounded in fact).

Have been aware of this for a long long time, and was how I knew (even though don't know all the details) that the US rests on a history of human violence and destruction.

Will keep to hopefully actually read some time; continuing to hope for reparations of some sort more and more as our leadership improves....more

Read this long long ago, the tension and seriousness in it was more than even I liked. .. Curious now again though.

And though, thinking back, I thinkRead this long long ago, the tension and seriousness in it was more than even I liked. .. Curious now again though.

And though, thinking back, I think one conclusion I drew from this regarding my own life is that I didn't want to be politically active in these ways to these extents, with these results. I certainly wouldn't want to try and raise a kid with having had all of that.. tails unmanageable. So in that way, it was a good life-choice-exploration book for me. Now, this is still without having read it in 20 years, so my memory might be faulty.....more

Seems like potentially the perfect antidote to my current conundrum of hard-to-read Great Literature ala my daughter's class, and tedious Mom-sourcedSeems like potentially the perfect antidote to my current conundrum of hard-to-read Great Literature ala my daughter's class, and tedious Mom-sourced current novels..

And starts out engagingly interestingly!

I've wanted to get around to this for so long, am very excited!----Finished 2/26/10: This book deserves a really excellent review. Unfortunately, my time is overcommitted right now especially, and am going through a transition as well. Plus, I just want to re-read it instead of writing anything about it right now!

So, rather than doing any misc paragraphs right now, I think I'll start something in Word and see if it becomes anything good enough to include.

Until then, I'll just list some of my favorite aspects of this:Multiple points of viewDay-to-day life detailsIntimacy detailsSelf-identity constructioninsets in which a character's life is explored fully, fascinatinglots of political contentfeels trueIndia

If anyone (in the US) is thinking about 'living simply', this book is a great starting point. Middle-class in India can entail a very, very modest lifestyle by US standards. And a couple times in the book, a character feels bad about the luxury around them. Only, they're talking about a towel, or a mattress. This book is great for really getting a serious glimpse at how others - others who are just as real, just as whole, just as smart, just as good, etc.. etc.. - live with much, much less. My extensive clutter looks very different to me now....more

She was on Oprah etc.. I think I've heard of her. One of those I might try and read sometime, as I'm sure her name will be shorthand for overcoming-obShe was on Oprah etc.. I think I've heard of her. One of those I might try and read sometime, as I'm sure her name will be shorthand for overcoming-obstacles etc.. for years to come. ...more

Read this in college I think, as part of a women-of-color literature class perhaps. And also another book from the Hispanic community, that I hope toRead this in college I think, as part of a women-of-color literature class perhaps. And also another book from the Hispanic community, that I hope to come across again. That other one made a huge impression on me, the atmospherics around the oppressive Texas heat and the oppression of the marital relationship was really something.) This is remember as focused on a child, and at first light-hearted as child-things would tend to be, but then going much deeper than that. Would like to re-read (and have kept, so will do that soon)....more

Oh, he wrote this, too.. I'd forgotten that. I can't remember if I read this, but I certainly saw the film or became totally aware of it around that lOh, he wrote this, too.. I'd forgotten that. I can't remember if I read this, but I certainly saw the film or became totally aware of it around that late 70's time. And I was appreciative that someone captured the whole alcoholic Mom thing, and I could step out and compare similarities/differences; that daughter's coping mechanisms vs. mine, and so on. Excellent.. (from memory)....more

I am so glad that he wrote about that city and its murders, I'd heard about it and been quietly upset that more wasn't being done. He both answers thaI am so glad that he wrote about that city and its murders, I'd heard about it and been quietly upset that more wasn't being done. He both answers that need and has already acted on that same need very powerfully. ...more

Seems like a flavor-fit for transit rides next week..I like the crazy-family parts, the incipient intelligence coming to fore, the inner-Jewish-templeSeems like a flavor-fit for transit rides next week..I like the crazy-family parts, the incipient intelligence coming to fore, the inner-Jewish-temple content, and the dry wit (if that's what it is), like this, about during the State Spelling Bee: "A misspoken letter is irreversible, the equivalent of a nervous tic during brain surgery." Ouch!

One huge aspect of this story that bothered me is Saul not including Eliza in any Jewish Learning at all, no Bat Mitzvah, etc.. Brings up the time period - maybe it's set in the 70's? Saul's college days seem to be late 60's early 70's, so it seems it's got to be the 80's. And I don't know when things really changes, but as of the late 90's I know girls were all having Bat Mitzvah's, and not just the smart girls or anything. So that just kind of continually threw me for a loop. I guess the story works in some ways given that fact (Eliza's unfamiarity with Hebrew letters is a basic element of the later part of her journey), but it felt so bizarre and without any justification provided. That and some other touches did feel contrived, as others have said. Which, along with the extreme avoidance of conflict etc.. made it more unusual then would be optimally useful seemed to me.

Really interesting commentary on identity formation, parental approval, and the relationship between the two. It shows situations at the far end of bad, but even so, the way the father, Saul (in particular) thinks about what he's doing with his kids is not that far off from how many/most middle-class parents think about such things, possibly. It doesn't give the 'instead, do this' accompanying content, which I miss, but I guess that would fall in the category of spoon-feeding, etc.. I guess for me the 'instead' is, um, unconditional love of who the kid actually is, and support of that person - especially when that person's process doesn't carry any parental rewards of identity validation etc.. Very chilling and absorbing and all. Reading it on my transit route currently was awful/perfect, as my route consists of 4 reading-segments of 6-10 minutes each, punctuated by movement. Echoed one part of what the characters in this book would be going through - the real world impinging on their chosen universe, and they're having to respond accordingly. I intensely disliked the ending at first (having no idea how it could end while approaching the last few pages, as so much is going on), but afterwards, forced to make peace with it (to the extent I wanted to have peace with it) I can see that it's relatively perfect. A person incorporating reality into their psyche and making the optimal decision for them based on that reality. Am very, very happy to be done with it....more

Aha! Just from the first few pages, it's not 100% as bleak at the end as the movie. Excellent..

After Brokeback, I'm going to hopefully read the rest aAha! Just from the first few pages, it's not 100% as bleak at the end as the movie. Excellent..

After Brokeback, I'm going to hopefully read the rest according to publication date. Looks like my library has copies of all of it.

Anyway, this was a delight to read. Completely fascinating the scenes and dialogue that was picked right up off the page and used in the film. And I feel better now about the ending; although it some ways it's worse - knowing all that Ennis continues to muse over. That he continues to feel great pleasure and love from it; but also re-imagines Jack's death as well. So awful.

Until society moves beyond each hatred though, it is necessary to see it.

Who I would recommend this to: --- Anyone joining the US, or thinking about it (for historical context); --- Anyone for whom 'America' is on a pedestaWho I would recommend this to: --- Anyone joining the US, or thinking about it (for historical context); --- Anyone for whom 'America' is on a pedestal; esp in relation to other nations.---Anyone interested in US history---Anyone interested in how people construct their definition of 'the other'

One additional thing I *have* to say: Annie Proulx has THE most interesting way of describing people's faces I have ever read. Honestly. Someone could publish the collected works of Faces by Annie Proulx, and it would be riveting.

p. 366: So, am reading engrossedly, a scene with two drunk guys driving at night, comparing dangers past and present, wondering if this will be an instance of something really horrible happening that maims the characters for life, or simply a wildly flavorful instance. .. on the bus. The number 16, in fact, a bus guaranteed to provide stories of its own regularly. But Saturday morning? Chances one would think would be low. Despite that, my attention from the riveting words on the page was torn by riveting words being spoken. These words were being spoken by a black man in the seat in front of me, head wrapped in white cloth in an urban manner, t-shirt, a young-old guy; who was speaking in an almost rap style, his comments directed toward a black woman at the front of the bus (5 rows or so away) who was standing, clad entirely in a burkha. The burka clearly bothered him. I didn't catch his whole soliliquoy (sp), as my attention had in fact been priorly riveted. But he was saying something about Jesus Christ and tyranny and the burka and freedom and sitting down. The woman's expression was a mixture of hostility-receiving, listening, seemed to turn then into awareness that he was in his own way on her side, in fact. Seemed there was some gentle amusement.. then she and her female companion (similiarly clothed) got off the bus, but just before that part 2 started; which was this white guy in the seat across the aisle from the black guy, who is - I don't know - something; who starts loudly asking the Soliliquoy(sp) guy: how did you get on this bus!?!?? I mean it, how did you get on? (and first the guy says - 'disability', I think thinking the guy was asking about his fare, not sure); then the guy continues - I mean, you were there, at the bus stop with us. You were smoking a cigarette. You were right there, and all of a sudden, you're here! It's like you just appeared in front of me! Seriously, how did you GET here?!?!! Then the black guy goes off the bus, and the stunned white guy starts talking about the temperature outside, how warm it is, and how warm he is. And this women a row ahead and across the aisle assures him that his temperature is nothing to worry about. and they discuss that for a few minutes. (His normal temperature is 97 degrees, everyone's varies).

It's like Proulx-uation (like sitation) just spilled from the book into real life. Must be vigilant!

So now, the last segments, present day: I'm so glad she included the Mackinac Bridge terror: my daughter's dad had to drive over that regularly during college, and many in his life. They'd always stop for a drink before, not the best. A yugo actually was blown off! Or so they say. .. And the radon gas leaking into basements thing, and use of the term 'scrabbling', perfect. Weird, from hearing what she says about the past, imagining it into reality; to seeing aspects of my own life in this book. Really is a panorama.

I love how Ivar - thought to be a tramp, basically - goes on doing his own thing, becomes wealthy.

And then the current voices, speaking against the current immigrants, saying they're not good, nice people like our ancestors were. The ringing echo of the book, explicitly sounded. Our ancestors said the same thing, about the folks who were slightly less new, and/or from a region 50 miles away in the homeland. It's been a constant refrain, never true.

There is no 'them' and 'us' of any validity in any of it, we all have our specificity and we're all good and bad. Of course, often those with an excess of unchecked power are even worse, but the human condition is imperfection and intertwined good/bad.

This book lays bare that complex nature of the US which is always covered in pretend images; and fights against the hard-core American impulse to ignore the past and look forward with the message that there *is* a context to the present debates that should be included.

The reality of the US of A: messy and contorted and more intricate and meaner and escalated and broken and mended stronger than its pretend imagery - would bear useful gifts if we would let it be known; all about the magnitude, richness and power of diversity and dreams and hopes and pain and suffering and gutting it out; and how that became where we are today.

Liked the ending. Would have more if I'd read it all I'm sure, but instead this book joins the ranks of the multiple-try, where some of my favorites live....more

Can't wait to read this, sounds like it will have actual data and info to understand explicitly and consciously what I have felt to be true at a gut lCan't wait to read this, sounds like it will have actual data and info to understand explicitly and consciously what I have felt to be true at a gut level for a long time....more

Looks like a pretty awful experience (reading this book). Plus, the whole idea that his sister not allowing their incestuous relationship to continueLooks like a pretty awful experience (reading this book). Plus, the whole idea that his sister not allowing their incestuous relationship to continue into adulthood having caused him to seek out men with which to relive that relationship is a pretty huge problem, for me and -I'd imagine- others; on multiple levels.

The idea behind it (according to one GR review): capturing what it was like to be within the atrocities of the Third Reich - is an interesting premise. Also about comparisons between Communism and Nazism, and that period and others since. But really sounds like a whole bunch of other content was lathered on as well that makes it truly truly excruciating.

Read in high school and was really affected by it. Has been the epitome of 'social consciousness novel' in my mind, and that which I aspire to (dreamiRead in high school and was really affected by it. Has been the epitome of 'social consciousness novel' in my mind, and that which I aspire to (dreamily, in that divorced-from-real-life way that things are when one's actual life exists in a whole different realm). I've known to some extent that Sinclair was disappointed in the effect - change in the meat industry itself only, not lives of workers. But I think that other change has come as well to some extent. And of course neither kind enough, as of today.How to break through the tendencies of people to just live their lives and not engage in social change every day, which is what it would take to change all that needs changing? Is small, 'Aquarian Conspiracy' change (which I've set my plateau on) enough? What does good mean, knowing that all is interconnected and simple solutions are bad? Sigh..Oh, yeah, I'm probably due to read this book again too.....more

I'd come across references to this in the past, and never knew what was being talked about, and didn't learn myself. So finally now, thanks to the CCLI'd come across references to this in the past, and never knew what was being talked about, and didn't learn myself. So finally now, thanks to the CCLaP 100 in particular, I'm learning about it. http://www.cclapcenter.com/2007/12/pe...Sounds just fascinating, so many content areas could be explored from this: race being the most important aspect of Nat's life, related to whether Styron had the 'right' to write about him (vs. other aspects, universal to whites, being most important); the ability of anyone to write such a thing about someone else; the particular choices Styron made (in particular about the rape fantasy, I for one think it would be a strenuous process that would end with my agreeing with that choice); the change in awareness of Nat Turner and the rebellion caused by this book (good? bad? useful? to what? etc..); a zillion things related to religion; etc.. etc..; race various, etc..Probably a case of related readings being almost necessary as well.....more

Shaila has a new book releasing, and is doing a book give-away for that. In the meantime, this looks really interesting! Not at MPL though, drat. Or tShaila has a new book releasing, and is doing a book give-away for that. In the meantime, this looks really interesting! Not at MPL though, drat. Or the bigger Hennepin County. Some day though....more